The art world witnessed a lot of news worthy activity recently. In terms of absolute value, the most expensive news came from Abu Dhabi. The renowned land artist Christo wants to create a 150 meter high, flat topped pyramid with 410,000 multicolored oil barrels. The proposed structure will be higher than the Great Pyramid at Giza and will require an investment of $340 million making it the most expensive sculpture in Abu Dhabi and will dominate the desert landscape of Al Ghariba. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the brother of the crown prince is backing the project called ‘The Mastaba’.
Leonardo di Caprio Buys New Art Work
Leonardo DiCaprio is known as an art lover who has an understanding of fine art. The star was in New York for filming ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ and used the opportunity to visit the Eykyn Maclean Gallery on the Upper East Side to check Andy Warhol’s ‘Flowers’. He also participated in Christie’s contemporary art sale after assessing the works on offer at the pre auction exhibition.
Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts Criticized for Renting Its Art Work
Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts has landed in a controversy for renting some of its most prized artworks. The museum has been raising substantial amount of money by renting its invaluable pieces by Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and Cézanne to its corporate clients. There are many who believe that the museum is depriving audiences of its greatest assets. Malcolm Rogers, the director of the museum admitted that too many of the masterpieces have been sent away on rent at the same time.
National Portrait Gallery of London Acquires a New Masterpiece
The National Portrait Gallery of London has acquired a new masterpiece. It is a portrait of Amy Winehouse, the renowned singer who died at the age of 27 in 2011. South African artist Marlene Dumas, best known for her evocative images of famous political figures has done the painting predominantly in blue. Sarah Howgate of the National Portrait Gallery believes that the color effectively connects to Amy Winehouse’s musical influences and at the same time indicates at the melancholy details of her career.
Los Angeles Enacts New Ordinance to Control Sale of Art on Venice Beach
The Wall Street Journal reported about an ordinance enacted recently in Los Angeles. It aims to govern the types of art that can be sold on the Venice Beach broadwalk. According to the new ordinance mass produced and utilitarian goods like pottery cannot be sold on the broadwalk but allows the sale of painting, sculpture, and other forms of artistic expression. It is going to be tough job for the LAPD officers but will have to take the final call on local artisan’s offerings.
Google Maps Develops Floor Plans of Important Museums
Google Maps have made locating any place on this earth easy. They have added a new feature that gives you the floor plans of important museums and libraries in nine countries. The floor plans available online aim to help the visitor move through the halls of great museums like the Freer Gallery in Washington, The Art Institute of Chicago, the British Museum in London and many more.
Kansas City Art Institute Sues Couple Who Had Pledged $5 Million
A Southern California couple Larry and Kristina Dodge had pledged $5 million to the Kansas City Art Institute but were done in by the recession and couldn’t continue donating beyond $1 million. However they were taken aback when the Art Institute, which had built a new facility costing $7 million depending on the promised funds, sued the couple for not honoring their promise. The couple is surviving by selling articles on eBay and found the reaction of the institute completely ruthless and heartless.
Paddle8 Bids Acquires Blacklots.com After New Funding
Paddle8 Bids has consolidated its position as an online auction site by acquiring Blacklots.com founded by the former Phillips de Pury Chairman Rodman Primack. Paddle8 is founded and managed by Alexander Gilkes who is also a former Phillips staffer. The acquisition was made possible by a funding of $4 million made by Mousse Partners.
Ayyam Gallery Expands Its Base to London and Jeddah
Ayyam Gallery which specializes in established and emerging Middle Eastern artists is expanding its base beyond the present locations of Beirut, Damascus, and Dubai. Come January 2013 and they will open in new locations at London and Jeddah. The new spaces will be inaugurated with work by Nadim Karam, Mohammad Orabi and Lara Zankoul and many more. The Saudi art scene is witnessing a revival and the international interest in Saudi artists is also on an upswing. The new locations will add to the reach of the gallery.
Via: artinfo
